Free The Heart Remembers by Peggy Gaddis Page A

Aunt Hettie was still, she made a gesture of resignation.
    â€œI was a fool to think I could get away with it, even after fifteen years. To come here and keep my identity a secret—” she admitted wearily.
    â€œWhy can’t you?” demanded Aunt Hettie.
    Shelley caught her breath.
    â€œYou mean you won’t tell?” she whispered, incredulous.
    Aunt Hettie snorted and her color rose.
    â€œI been accused of a sight of things in my time, but gossipin and tale-bearin’ ain’t among ’em. Far’s I’m concerned you’re Shelley Kimbrough right on, and the only way I ever heard you tell ’bout the Newtons is when you bought up the mortgage on this place.”
    Shelley’s pallor had faded into a soft pink and her mouth was tremulous as she smiled, her shining eyes mirroring her gratitude.
    â€œThank you, Aunt Hettie,” she said unsteadily.
    â€œFor what? For mindin’ my own busness?” Aunt Hettie snorted again. “Shucks, I’ve been doin’ that for more’n sixty years. I aim to keep right on doin’ it, too. I was always taught it was a right sensible thing to do. Longer I live, the more sure I am it’s the truth, too.”
    Shelley blinked and put out her hand and squeezed Aunt Hettie’s work-roughened one where it lay in her lap. Aunt Hettie patted Shelley’s hand and smiled warmly at the girl.
    â€œYou’re a right nice girl, Shelley, and a mighty sweet one. I reckon you’ve got your own reasons for wantin’ to come back here.”
    â€œThat’s pretty obvious, don’t you think?” Shelley flashed. “I’m going to find out what really happened, fifteen years ago, and clear my father’s name. He didn’t steal that money, Aunt Hettie. Mother knew it—and I’m going to prove it.”
    Aunt Hettie was silent for a moment and then she sighed.
    â€œWell, to tell you the truth, Shelley, I don’t think many people ever really believed that he did, even with the case them lawyers was able to build up against him,” she admitted at last. “Folks always thought the whole thing was mighty peculiar. Nobody believed Hastings Newton was a thief. But after all, he
was
seen lurking ’round the bank mighty late at night and the money was found here in the shop.”
    Shelley sat very still, her hands locked tightly together. Aunt Hettie watched her and sighed.
    â€œSome folks said it was like in the movies, that he was being ‘framed.’ That somebody else took the money and throwed the blame on him. Though why anybody’d go to the trouble o’ stealin’ the money and then not even get the spendin’ of it seemed right queer.”
    Still Shelley did not speak, just waited.
    â€œThere was some talk,” Aunt Hettie went on hesitantly, “that there was a woman mixed up in it somewhere.”
    â€œThat’s not true! My mother and father were devoted to each other. My father adored her. He couldn’t have been interested in another woman. That’s ridiculous. It’s indecent. I won’t believe it.”
    â€œWell, now, I don’t reckon it was true. I’ve seen ’em together, Hastings and Callie. If ever there was two people that was plumb crazy about each other, seems to me it was them two. It just done your heart good to be with ’em.”
    Shelley smiled through her tears. Aunt Hettie leaned forward and laid her hand on Shelley’s andspoke softly and earnestly.
    â€œBe careful, Shelley, be mighty careful. I dunno why I say that, but it’s just that after all these years, for you to come back here and start stirring up old troubles, old hates, living under a false name—”
    â€œBut it’s not a false name, Aunt Hettie. After my mother died, I was legally adopted by a close friend of hers, a Mrs. Kimbrough who was a widow, with no children of her own. I really
am
legally Shelley